Casey, Marlene June (1951-2017)

CASEY, RICHARDSON, DAVIS, SCHULTZ, STATON

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 8/2/2017 at 19:18:50

Marlene Casey
March 21, 1951 - July 26, 2017

Marlene Casey, age 66, of Mountain Grove, Missouri, and formerly of Newell, Iowa, died on July 26, 2017, in Springfield, Missouri.

Marlene June (Richardson) Casey was born on March 21st (She'd prefer we not share the year.) in the Laurens hospital and into the loving home of Harold and June Richardson. One of eight living children born into her family, she was baptized at the First Christian Church in Laurens. Raised on a farm, she knew all about the work needed to feed and take care of a family. After going to schools in the Laurens area for years, she attended beauty school in Storm Lake, Iowa.

She met Donald Casey (who at that time was in school in Colorado) through a classmate at beauty school. Don and Marlene exchanged letters for a while until he came to Storm Lake. They married on December 6th, 1970, and made their home in Storm Lake. Soon, Don and Marlene began growing their family: Carrie was born in ‘72, Donnelle in ‘74, and Nathan in ‘76. After a few years, the family grew again when Jessica was born in ‘82.

Marlene loved her role as a mom, taking care of her children. A faithful member of the Church of Christ in Storm Lake, Iowa, she sought to use her gifts through the years in many ways. She cooked and cleaned, organized and collected, gardened and decorated anything and anywhere she went. With our Mom, everything had its place. Even the table when covered with stuff was so carefully sorted that we weren't to touch it. Spending endless hours baking for get-togethers and holidays, she made the best homemade rolls and bread only to pair them with her famous apple butter. Her caramel and pecans adding the finishing touch. She, usually, had four or five different recipes going at once; flops would happen, and Dad enjoyed them. But leave no doubt, this mother of ours could put out a feast. Her love for pecan pie smoked up the house each time made it as she would fill those pans so full, that she had to clean the oven afterwards. She took pride in her garden and flower beds as well. When we were all young, she'd be snapping beans and canning, making anything she could from the load of produce she grew. She spent hours weeding and picking, watering and judging just how things were coming along. Let's not forget the rhubarb, crisps, cobblers, and sauces on ice cream and her famous caramels at Christmas time. Marlene made us a lot of clothes, again flawlessly and so lovingly made; her talents were many and she shared when she could.

Mom sought to share her talents and time in many places through the years including with the Rebeccas, the Junior Federated Club, the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, and the 4-H Club. She served in various capacities at her church including as vacation Bible School director and teacher, Sunday school teacher, and Bible Bowl leader as well as on various other committees. She is fondly remembered for running her own restaurant (MJ's Coffeepot) for a short time in downtown Newell, having an in-home daycare, and working as a cook at the school her children attended. Marlene even filled in for a time working as a teacher's aide/para. She, also, served on the Fireman's Auxiliary in Newell. She decorated her children's birthday cakes, made mints for graduations and weddings having every detail down pat. Organized. Our mom was organized. Even when we were older, Mom, always, was there, just a phone call away for advice, with venting and loving words, and she became quite proficient and texting to keep in touch with both children and grandchildren. Mom made mistakes; she'd, even, admit it. But somethings she did right, really, really right: she loved the Lord and had a passion for His word; she loved and adored our dad, raised us kids with morals, and was not afraid to say no.

Her arms and home were always open; her biggest pride was her grandchildren; she was the best. Even when cancer attacked, Marlene fought bravely and beat it during the first round. She expressed faith in her heavenly Father and knew He had her life in His loving hands. When the cancer returned, she continued to trust in her Savior. She enjoyed a recent visit with her children all together before passing into the arms of God. You are forever in heaven now mom, and in our hearts, you will rest.

She is survived by her loving husband of forty-six and a half years, Don Casey; her four children, Carrie (Steven) Davis, of Marshall, Minnesota, Donnelle (special friend Pete Pearson) Schultz, of Cherokee, Iowa, Nathan (Kristi) Casey, of Hebron, Nebraska, and Jessica (Damon) Staton, of Newell, Iowa; her many grandchildren: Kody, Hannah, Samuel (fiancée Heather), Logan; Toby, Maxwell, Levi, Caleb; Keegan, Cooper, Tylene, Kinley, Ellie; her granddoggy, Willie; her mother, June Richardson; and her siblings: Marjorie, Nancy, Steven, Neil, David, Brian, and Leslie; as well as by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Marlene was preceded in death by two infant sisters, Margaret and Marilyn; her grandparents, and her father, Harold Richardson.

Funeral services will be held Monday, July 31, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. at the Fratzke and Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake, Iowa. Burial will follow in the Newell Cemetery. Visitation will take place Sunday, July 30, 2017, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Fratzke and Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake. The Fratzke and Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is overseeing the arrangements.

Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Homes, Storm Lake, Iowa, 2017

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